@pschousing Live tweeting at: #IForums20 The Intersections of Voting and Homelessness October 15, 2020 – Virtual IForum With thanks to our founding sponsor:
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Agenda Welcome and Introduction Kiley Gosselin , Executive Director, Partnership for Strong Communities (@pschousing) Nancy A. Humphreys Institute for Political Social Work Angela Bellas, UConn School of Social Work PhD Candidate and Graduate Assistant National Low Income Housing Coalition Victoria Bourret, Housing Advocacy Field Organizer Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness Sarah Fox, Director of Advocacy & Community Impact Audience Q & A Danielle Hubley, Policy Analyst, Partnership for Strong Communities Adjourn
Nancy Humphreys Institute for Political Social Work Angela Bellas UConn School of Social Work PhD Candidate and Graduate Assistant
Our Vision: An INCLUSIVE DEMOCRACY that works for and responds to all individuals . Who votes matters Representation matters Who is counted matters Nancy A. Humphreys Institute for Political Social Work
The problem with voter turnout Elected officials pay a attention to v voters • 100 million eligible age voters stayed home in 2016; 43% of the eligible electorate • Turnout for state and local elections is far lower • Nonvoters are more likely to be lower income, less educated, non-white, and unmarried; often ignored by campaigns Knight Foundation: https://the100million.org/ The United States Election Project: http://www.electproject.org/
Structural barriers support the intentional myth that voting doesn’t matter • Confusing and complicated rules , deadlines and processes; • Suppression tactics include: – felony voting laws – strict voter id rules – purging voter lists – challenging student registrations – reducing poll locations – strict absentee rules – allegations of voter fraud, etc. – “ Gerrymandering”
Supporting people to vote connects to our mission and impact 1. Social determinant of health. Individuals and communities who vote are better off. 2. Human right. Systemic barriers, voter suppression, felony disenfranchisement & gerrymandering designed by and for people in power 3. Empowerment practice. Voting is an act of power, individually and collectively. 4. Policy change. “The vote is the most powerful nonviolent tool we have.” John Lewis (February 21, 1940 - July 17, 2020)
Voting as a social work intervention Supporting individuals to vote: ❑ help people register ❑ Provide information about how/when/where to vote ❑ Connect to information about the candidates and who is on the ballot ❑ Provide encouragement that their vote matters Organizations can: ❑ Provide ongoing training, support and tools for staff ❑ Build civic literacy and engagement into culture and services ❑ Advocate for voting rights and access ❑ Emphasize local and state elections and primaries
Long-term change with the urgency of now • 10 days left! Encourage clients, friends, communities to participate in the 2020 census. • Help people to vote in this election ❑ Check their registration and/or help them register ❑ Apply for absentee ballot ASAP ❑ Download copies of the ballots and/or link to candidate guides and forums ❑ Post and share instructions for absentee ballots ❑ Reminders to sign, date and seal their inner envelopes ❑ Information on official dropboxes ❑ Encouragement to vote, including individuals with a felony (who can vote after parole ends)
REGISTERED AT CURRENT ADDRESS • Shelters Encouragement to vote & HOW, WHEN, • Health care settings participate in WHERE to vote civic life • Schools Social workers • Clinics & • Shelters Social Voting rights Easy to find Services • Libraries information on valued and candidates and enforced • After school programs where they stand. • Day care • Food pantries Individuals who need • VAs accommodations are able to vote
Simple tools in one place. VotingIsSocialWork.org
For voting resources and information: go to www.VotingIsSocialWork.org Tanya Rhodes Smith & Angela Bellas Nancy A Humphreys Institute for Political Social Work University of Connecticut School of Social Work Tanya.smith@uconn.edu Angela.bellas@uconn.edu www.VotingIsSocialWork.org
National Low Income Housing Coalition Victoria Bourret Housing Advocacy Field Organizer
Become an Affiliate ● Become an Our Homes, Our Votes Affiliate ● Free swag ● Access to templates ● Use of logo ● Guidance from NLIHC staff ● Promote efforts
Long Term Policy Strategies • Expand rental assistance • Expand the supply of housing affordable to the lowest income renters • Preserve the limited affordable housing stock • Create a new national program that provides temp. rent assistance for unexpected shocks
Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness Sarah Fox Director of Advocacy & Community Impact
What You Need To Know To Help Your Clients Vote Thursday, October 15th, 2020 Sarah Fox, Director of Advocacy and Community Impact CT Coalition to End Homelessness
Guidance from the CT Secretary of State https://portal.ct.gov/SOTS/Election-Services/Voter-Information/Homeless-Voter-Fact-Sheet
Voter Eligibility To register in Connecticut you must: • be a citizen of the United States • be a resident of Connecticut and of the town in which you wish to vote • be 17 years old. 17 year olds who will turn 18 on or before Election Day, may participate in the general primary • have completed confinement and parole if previously convicted of a felony, and have had your voting rights restored by Registrars of Voters
Residency Requirements An individual is a resident if: • There is some nexus to a given town; • The individual intends to return when absent from that town. This could be a town you slept in, spent time in, etc.
What is the difference between my physical and mailing address? A mailing address is some place where you are able to receive mail and a physical address is where you are located. • You vote by the location of your physical address . • A registration confirmation letter will be sent to your mailing address.
Voter Identification Requirements Photo Identification is not required. For most voters, your identification must fit one of the following requirements for it to be accepted as a valid form of ID at the polls: name and address, or name and signature, or, name and photograph However, for voters who are voting for the first time in a municipality, and lacked proper identification when registering, some additional types of identification may be required. Contact your local registrar of voters’ office or visit myvote.ct.gov, for more information on ID requirements.
Voter Registration Option 1: Option 2: • If you have a CT DMV ID : • If you DO NOT: • Register Online • Complete a paper registration • https://voterregistration.ct.gov/OL card and deliver it to your local VR/welcome.do Registrar of Voters before registration deadline • CT has Election Day Registration Available
Voter Registration Remind people to look up their registration status to find: • Polling location • Party affiliation (if applicable) • Absentee ballot status (once mailed) • Scan the QR Code on the next slide to registe r
Know Where to Vote • Use the Secretary of State's online locator to find your local polling place. If you are working with someone who has recently been housed and has relocated to another town, they will need to re-register in their new town. • Connecticut polling places are open from 6 am to 8 pm on Election Day (November 3, 2020). Any voter standing in line at the polls at 8 pm will be allowed to cast a ballot.
Election Day Voter Registration • Election Day voter registration is available in town halls in your client’s town of residence. • Clients are eligible for same day voter registration if they meet the the eligibility requirements for voting and have not yet registered, OR you are registered in a different town from where you currently reside and wish to change it. • Contact your local registrar of voter’s office for more information
Tell Clients About Expansion of Absentee Ballots ALL VOTERS are eligible to vote by absentee ballot in the November 2020 general election because of the coronavirus pandemic. • Only complete absentee ballots received before the close of polls on election day will be counted • State Officials recommend bringing your absentee ballot to an official dropbox to avoid mailing delays
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